4V Hooker Comp VS Doug Headers-which is best?

[bluefatsback]

Just got back from the Detroit Autorama. Got me thinking about working on my car. Im in the market for some new headers. I want a good header, no junk. Hooker and Dougs are what im looking at. Any opinions as far as fit and quality. I thought I read someone said the Hookers port doesnt match very well? Also about coatings. I bought coated Hookers 30 years ago and the finish didnt last long and was disappointed. How are they now? Any other brands to consider?


Mark

 

[Hemikiller]

I bought a set of Hooker 6915 headers for the 4V head last spring. Port match was just fine, better than what I have seen on older versions of the headers. They now use a laser cut flange and eliminated the hand welded and ground sealing flange. I didn't have a lot of time on them, but they sealed up great with no leaks. Fit is great, they don't hit anything and required no modifications to install. These are also one of the only headers that work with the 71-73 clutch linkage. They're now made in China rather than Mexico, but I was very happy with the overall quality.

FWIW, your typical header never came with a permanent or durable finish until the ceramic coatings came out. The black paint on these is just to protect them in shipping and storage. Hooker had their "metallic ceramic" coating back 30 years ago. No experience with it. I've had several friends use local ceramic coating companies with good success. My plan is to run these for the summer when the engine goes back in, then remove them and send them out to a local coater that my engine builder uses. Typically I don't recommend pre-coated headers as most require some level of massaging to install, but the 6915/6921 models fit so well that I wouldn't hesitate to get whichever coating you prefer as long as you're not going to use them to break in a flat tappet cam.

There are two "Doug's" headers; Doug Thorley, and "Original Doug's" which is owned by Pertronix. Haven't used any of Doug's headers, so I have no experience with them.

 

[timachone]

I have them Hookers also on my car and fit or installation was just fine, a few times. But I had the hand welded flanges so it needed a bit of customisation. Since they seem to use a laser cut flange now you have no problem here. Port match is just fine on the 4V heads. I bought the just painted version and it holds on ok. Scratches from installation I touched up with engine paint.

 

[Sheriff41]

I've had Hooker headers on my '72 for at least 10 years, maybe longer. Good fit (with AOD trans) and no leaks ever. I had them Jet Hot coated back when I bought them and they still look like the day I installed them.

 

[jedomfl]

Just got back from the Detroit Autorama. Got me thinking about working on my car. Im in the market for some new headers. I want a good header, no junk. Hooker and Dougs are what im looking at. Any opinions as far as fit and quality. I thought I read someone said the Hookers port doesnt match very well? Also about coatings. I bought coated Hookers 30 years ago and the finish didnt last long and was disappointed. How are they now? Any other brands to consider?


Mark

Some manufacturers run the #7 exhaust primary over the top. Stay away from those.

 

[jpaz]

I have the Hooker comps with the black ceramic coating on them. They fit and look great!

 

[Heavy Metal]

Be careful when selecting primary tube OD size.
On my 71 Mach 1 351C , I went from old Black Jack Headers with 1 5/8" primarys
on 2V heads to 2" Hooker Super Comps. This really flattened out my torque curve and wouldn't pull as hard from 4500 to 5700 rpm. This may be the ticket for 4V heads as the ports are much larger "Huge". I'm sure guys on here will help with their experiences.

 

[tony-muscle]

I have the Hooker comps with the black ceramic coating on them. They fit and look great!

+1 No issues after 5 years with the black ceramic coating. The only issues have been due to banging the headers.

 

[bluefatsback]

Be careful when selecting primary tube OD size.
On my 71 Mach 1 351C , I went from old Black Jack Headers with 1 5/8" primarys
on 2V heads to 2" Hooker Super Comps. This really flattened out my torque curve and wouldn't pull as hard from 4500 to 5700 rpm. This may be the ticket for 4V heads as the ports are much larger "Huge". I'm sure guys on here will help with their experiences.

Yes actually I have the Hooker Super Comps on that I bought like 30 years ago. I feel the car never ran the same and this is why im going to a smaller primary tube like the Comp instead.. I had some cheap Black jack headers originally I I think the car ran better. The flanges were terrible though. They always leaked.

 

[bluefatsback]

I have the Hooker comps with the black ceramic coating on them. They fit and look great!

I never considered the black ceramic coating but maybe I should

 

[bluefatsback]

I've had Hooker headers on my '72 for at least 10 years, maybe longer. Good fit (with AOD trans) and no leaks ever. I had them Jet Hot coated back when I bought them and they still look like the day I installed them.

What did that Jet Hot cost you if I may ask?

 

[bluefatsback]

I bought a set of Hooker 6915 headers for the 4V head last spring. Port match was just fine, better than what I have seen on older versions of the headers. They now use a laser cut flange and eliminated the hand welded and ground sealing flange. I didn't have a lot of time on them, but they sealed up great with no leaks. Fit is great, they don't hit anything and required no modifications to install. These are also one of the only headers that work with the 71-73 clutch linkage. They're now made in China rather than Mexico, but I was very happy with the overall quality.

FWIW, your typical header never came with a permanent or durable finish until the ceramic coatings came out. The black paint on these is just to protect them in shipping and storage. Hooker had their "metallic ceramic" coating back 30 years ago. No experience with it. I've had several friends use local ceramic coating companies with good success. My plan is to run these for the summer when the engine goes back in, then remove them and send them out to a local coater that my engine builder uses. Typically I don't recommend pre-coated headers as most require some level of massaging to install, but the 6915/6921 models fit so well that I wouldn't hesitate to get whichever coating you prefer as long as you're not going to use them to break in a flat tappet cam.

There are two "Doug's" headers; Doug Thorley, and "Original Doug's" which is owned by Pertronix. Haven't used any of Doug's headers, so I have no experience with them.

I thought that Pertronix bought out Doug Thorley and now they are just called Doug's?

 

[bluefatsback]

I have them Hookers also on my car and fit or installation was just fine, a few times. But I had the hand welded flanges so it needed a bit of customisation. Since they seem to use a laser cut flange now you have no problem here. Port match is just fine on the 4V heads. I bought the just painted version and it holds on ok. Scratches from installation I touched up with engine paint.

Thanks for the reply. I never had any luck myself with paint on the headers staying on. They are much cheaper but after a bit, mine always flaked off and then started to rust and look pretty ugly. Im sure paint now is better than it use to be.

 

[bluefatsback]

+1 No issues after 5 years with the black ceramic coating. The only issues have been due to banging the headers.

Do your headers hang on the low side? My Super Comps do and I hate it. They will sometimes bottom out if im driving fast and there is a dip in the road.

 

[Sheriff41]

What did that Jet Hot cost you if I may ask?

LOL! Too much, as I recall! Seriously, though, it was a long time back and I don't remember. It was pricey, though. Jet Hot is a ceramic coat so going with the manufacturer's ceramic coating is probably a better deal.

 

[DAverkamp]

Just got back from the Detroit Autorama. Got me thinking about working on my car. Im in the market for some new headers. I want a good header, no junk. Hooker and Dougs are what im looking at. Any opinions as far as fit and quality. I thought I read someone said the Hookers port doesnt match very well? Also about coatings. I bought coated Hookers 30 years ago and the finish didnt last long and was disappointed. How are they now? Any other brands to consider?


Mark

Mark,
I installed Sanderson shorties on my 72 351C 4V and they installed with ease and no clearance issues on either bank. They are a bit pricy for some but as it's said..buy once, cry once. I hope this helps!

 

[markafss]

Do your headers hang on the low side? My Super Comps do and I hate it. They will sometimes bottom out if im driving fast and there is a dip in the road.

I have a pair of Doug’s headers on my 73q code and they never scrape. Great quality. Ceramic coated.

 

[bluefatsback]

I have a pair of Doug’s headers on my 73q code and they never scrape. Great quality. Ceramic coated.

Thanks. Im really torn between the 2. Nobody has really said anything negative about either. Its a big investment and dont want to be sorry in the end.

 

[Q1SVT]

Thanks. Im really torn between the 2. Nobody has really said anything negative about either. Its a big investment and dont want to be sorry in the end.

Because Headers like many things on a build are very specific to YOUR combination...

Here are two very good write ups..


It about N/A racing motors but many great points for a street car
https://www.enginelabs. com/engine-tech/exhaust/how-to-select-the-right-headers-for-your-n-a-race-engine/
Foot note, funny they did not talk about internal ceramic coatings and bearer coatings, which can change the thermal layer, flow, and keep the hot gases hotter longer, etc. {many 351C headers are oversized for most applications, but they are all we have to choose from... coatings help make the gasses think/act like the pipe is smaller than it is]



Doug Headers...
https://www.enginelabs. com/engine-tech/exhaust/header-design-choosing-the-best-headers-for-your-application/

Foot note... interesting comment about C Shelby and 289's... Ford thought horse-power won races at that time the 289 rod ratio was 1.79. Carroll tri-y headers added torque. By 1970 and the new 351C Ford had Rod Ratio @ 1.65.

A Ford engineer [on many performance motors] and later as record holder in pro stock racing, ran a 351C w/ 6.060 rods... 1.73 ratio [aka Wayne Gapp]

 

[Hotstang]

I replaced mine a few years back with a set of FPA headers. These are well built with a choice of coating and better than any I have seen. I really like the ball and socket design collector fo a no gasket-no leak seal and they don't drag the speed bumps like my last set. Do a web search on people who have run these and give FPA a call. I think you will be pleased.